Bulletin board construction



- Aug. 9, 1938. c. F. SMITH BULLETIN BOARD CONSTRUCTIDN Filed April 7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

anitlp, an a 7-- mug H I S ATTORNEY.

1938- I c. F. S MITH 2,125,964

BULLETIN BOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed April 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

76mm 3? ZWJLZ HIS ATTORNEY.

Aug. 9, 1938. c. F.-SMITH BULLETIN BOARD CONSTRUCTION :s Shets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1936 HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BULLETIN BOARD CONSTRUCTION ware Application April 7, 1936, Serial No. 73,053

2 Claims.

This invention relates to display signs, particularly of the outdoor type generally referred to as billboard or bulletin board displays.

In the production and erection of display de- 5in vices of the aforementioned character, unitary assemblies are erected at considerable cost, to meet the requirements of independent advertisers and advertising programs. Suchl construction may be of temporary attraction, in line with an 16- advertising policy, to meet temporary as well as changing fancies. A structure once erected and requiring alteration, revision or substitution is burdensome and frequently commercially uneconomical where a rapid change is necessary to 1 5? meet changes in public trend or for the substitution of advertising display matter.

It is, therefore, any object of my invention to provide a display device in the nature of an outdoor advertising sign billboard or bulletin board 20 which may meet varying requirements, trends, desires and permit rapid interchange of the area devoted to graphic representations, as well as its associated outline configuration.

It is contemplated by my invention to provide 25 a display device in the nature of a bulletin board of permanent background, including an area to which may be affixed. interchangeable units, the assembly of which connotes such inter-related graphic representation and including portions for 30k interchangeably associating with this background assembly, pictorial or outlining configurations, theassociationof which with the first area mentioned will present a pleasing, aesthetic assembly. Thus, it is contemplated by my invention to asso- 5 ciate with a framework for providing a bulletin board, interchangeable body, as well as outlining defining elements, so that one general assembly may be varied at will, with speed and economy to suit the exigencies of any variable factor in the 40 display area.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a billboard or bulletin board display, in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of 50 Figure 1,

line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1;

55 Figure 5 is a face view, with an end element Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the removed to show the interchangeable end element feature;

Figure 6 is a plan view of figurettes which may be substituted;

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are face views of the base 5, 1 background, with different forms of end figurettes or outlines which may be substituted;

Figure 11 is a perspective View showing the manner of embodying three-dimensional end sections in the bulletin board, in. accordance with 10 my invention;

Figure 12 is an end elevation of the same.

Making reference to the drawing, my invention contemplates the provision of a bulletin board or billboard for display of advertising subject-mat- 15 ter, preferably taking on a so-called modernistic aspect, and for this purpose a base In forms the pedestal upon which the billboard framework is supported. This constitutes a .primary central area H, including a permanent framework i2, made of standards l3 and horizontal sections l4,

a capital frame I5 and a base frame It, onto which a plurality of removable sections I! may be mounted, and held in position at the upper edge I8, beneath the downwardly directed overlap, IQ of the capital frame, and may be held at the lower extremity 20 against the member 2| of the frame l4 and the ledge 22 of the pedestal.

' A filler block 23 supports the elements IT in frame engaging position. Removability of the 30, sections l l is, therefore, afforded by the clearance between the capital frame and the base frame as determined by a spacer bar I8a which is spaced sufficiently to allow for the clearance aforesaid.

With the construction thus provided, any numher of units of sections Il may be removed and interchanged, to suit the particular requirements of the graphic assembly, to include letters or dis- 7 play area in unit sections to which, if desired,

,ing illuminants, such as electric bulbs or neon tube elements, as the occasion may require, or they may be flat sections to which there may be afiixed other elements of display, advertising matter or the like. 5

The assembly described is provided with end sections 24 and 25, the latter of which may carry some figurette 25a separable from theprimary central area and its supporting framework so that these end sections may be supplemented by any desired end configurations, and for this purpose independent standards 26 and 27, connected by the joist 28, and standards 26a, 21a which are positioned in alignment with the panels I! form the supporting background for the end elements at opposite sides respectively independent of the central area framework II previously described.

For this purpose, the upper surface 29 of the pedestal I is slotted to provide the grooved portions 3| to receive the base of various forms of figurettes or end sections, in accordance with the assembly of bulletin board that may be desired, which figurettes or end sections are in abutting relation with the members 30, 26a and 21a to be braced thereby.

For this purpose, in Figure 6, there is illus trated the elements 33 and 34, which may serve as end sections to be assembled with the primary central area of the bulletin board. It will also be observed that while figurettes such as 33 and 34 may be substituted for both end sections, the general rectangular contour of the framework may be retained by substituting a rectangular element for these sections 25a, as will appear from the configuration obtained in Figure 5 by the element 25.

In Figure '7, end sections 35 and 36 are shown assembled with the central frame area H, to give a so-called modernistic contour to the bulletin board assembly.

In Figure 8, end sections 31 and 38 are illustrative of the variability of the bulletin board contemplated by my invention, to impart to the entire assembly a different form or configuration, without modification of the primary central area II and for this purpose the end section 3'! may include an overhang 39, conforming to the general configuration of a primary section I I. Also, theend section 38 may include a configuration 4!), partially overlapping the primary central area ll, augmenting the modernistic effect of the entire assembly.

In Figure 9 I have illustrated interchangeable sections 4| and 42, in the form of fiat figurettes, which are interchangeable in the bulletin board construction without materially modifying the primary central display area II.

In Figure 10 I have illustrated end sections 43 and 44, associated with each end of the central display area ll, retaining the general rectane gular contour of the framework.

In Figures 11 and 12, the primary central display area is shown associated with three-dimensional figures 45 and .46, showing the latitude for interchangeability provided by my invention.

It will be understood that while the primary central display area may retain its rectangular continuity in its association with the pedestal l0, additional display elements, in the form of electric signs 41, may be associated with the exterior of the framework in more or less permanent association, especially where such sign may serve equally well with any series of assemblies upon the primary display area and the variable end sections which may be associated therewith.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided a bulletin board or display device in which a primary unitary structure is capable of alteration, revision and substitution to alter the general appearance of the display area without the need or requirement for varying the supporting structure, so that a wide range of variability is possible to meet the requirements of independent advertisers and advertising programs, which may be accomplished rapidly and economically by alterations of portions thereof, rather than the complete unitary structure.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A bulletin board construction including in combination a pedestal framework, a vertical background framework secured thereto, extended sections mounted upon said background framework forming a primary area devoted to graphic representations, end elements and means to mount said end elements in abutting relation to the framework to either side of the extended sections upon the pedestal, said means including slotted portions formed in said pedestal receiving parts of said end elements, whereby interchangeable end elements may be assembled in association with the primary area aforementioned.

2. A bulletin board construction including in combination a pedestal framework, a vertical background framework secured thereto, extended sections mounted upon said background framework forming a primary area devoted to graphic representations, an end element and means to mount said end element in abutting relation to the framework to one side of the extended sections upon the pedestal, said means including a slotted portion formed in said pedestal receiving a part of said end element, whereby an interchangeable end element may be assembled in association with the primary area aforementioned.

. C. FREDERICK SMITH. 

